Dog thefts in Dorset drop by 70% since 2017
But there are calls for incidents to be taken more seriously by police
Dog thefts across Dorset have fallen by 70% since 2017, according to latest stats.
But that's bucking the national trend, as police figures suggest an average of six dogs were stolen every day last year, with one in four never found.
American bulldogs are the most stolen breed - with their figures four times higher year on year - according to data collected from a Freedom of Information request.
In Dorset. just 17 dogs were stolen in 2022, compared to 58 in 2017.
Pet owner wants crime recognised
Under the current law, there is still no specific crime for pet theft, with stolen dogs treated like other stolen property.
Jo Davis knows just how devastating the theft of a pet dog can be - she was reunited with her family's chihuahua, Lilly, FIVE YEARS after it was stolen:
"It was really horrible at the time, that someone's stolen part of your family. If the dog gets stolen, it's absolutely heart-breaking. You don't what's happened to them They could have been used for fighting. We did get the police involved, but they couldn't find anything."
It was a particularly tough time for the family, as Jo's 2-year old daughter Jody was battling cancer when Lilly was stolen.
Jo says:
"It doesn't seem to be recognised enough - that people just get away with it. It's like having part of the family stolen".